Combination belt buckle and magnetically held marker



Sept. 28, 1965 M. KOOS 3,208,123

COMBINATION BELT BUCKLE AND MAGNETICALLY HELD MARKER Filed Feb. 18, 1963 INVENTOR MILTON KC 03 gawk/ United States Patent 3,208,123 CONLBINATION BELT BUCKLE AND MAGNETICALLY HELD MARKER Milton Koos, Box 561, Brielle, NJ. Filed Feb. 18, 1963, Ser. No. 259,309 1 Claim. (Cl. 24-73) This invention relates to a belt buckle and more particularly to a combination belt buckle and a magnetically held marker.

In playing golf a golfer often has to lift his ball from the green so that it will not interfere with the playing of another player who has precedence of play. Today, when a golfer removes his ball he usually removes a coin from his pocket and places it down as a marker for indicating the previous position of the golf ball. After the other player has completed his shot the waiting player replaces the ball in the location indicated by the coin and then lifts the coin from the green. The coin is then usually put back into the players pocket.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a marker magnetically held to the golfers belt buckle which may be utilized to indicate the location of a golf ball.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a marker which is held, when not in use, in a convenient, easily accessible location so as to avoid the necessity of reaching into the pocket and removing a coin or marker.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an individualistic golf marker which is easily distinguishable from that of another player or other players.

Still another object is the provision of a belt buckle which is attractive in appearance and still utilitarian as the holder for a golf marking device.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a golf marker which is strongly held to the belt buckle by magnetic means but in which said magnetic means is easily overcome by the fingers of the player when he desires to remove the marker from the belt buckle.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference should be had to the following description and the accompanying drawing forming a part of the specification. It is to be understood that it is not intended to be exhaustive nor limiting of the invention, but on the contrary, is given for purposes of illustration in order that others skilled in the art may fully understand the invention and the principles thereof and the manner of applying it in practical use so that they may modify and adapt it in various forms, each as may be best suited to the conditions of a particular use, and still be Within the scope of my invention.

Further objects, advantages, uses and adaptations of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of the front face of a belt buckle according to my invention with the marker shown in dotted line;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of a modified form of the invention;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of a still further modification;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view of a modification in which the marker itself is magnetized;

FIGURE 6 is a still further modification in which the marker itself is magnetized;

FIGURE 7 is a top plan view of a typical marker.

In each of FIGURES 1 through 6 the marker is shown in dotted line to more clearly illustrate the invention.

Referring now to FIGURES l and 2 of the drawing,

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10 indicates a belt buckle shown here as substantially rectangular in shape for illustrative purposes only. It may be made in any shape desired and still fall within the purview of this specification.

Located on one end of buckle 10 is fastening means 11 for fastening one end of a belt and at the opposite end of buckle 10 is fastening means 12 for fastening to the other end of the belt. Fastening means 11 and 12 are here shown as receiving means for hooks on the end of a stretch-type belt which is enjoying wide popularity at this time.

As the belt itself or its means of attachment to the buckle is not a critical part of the invention, belt 13 is shown in dotted line in FIGURE 1.

Located on the front of buckle 10 are ornamental appurtenances 14 shown here as crossed golf clubs, solely to provide eye appeal to the belt buckle. A variety of ornamental representations may be utilized in order to satisfy the varied esthetic tastes of golfers.

In the approximate center of buckle 10 is located a permanently affixed magnetic element 15. In order to show the placement of the magnetic element 15, as mentioned previously, the golf marker 16 is shown here in dotted line. Due to the magnetic properties of element 15 and the ability of marker 16 to be subject to magnetic attraction the marker is securely held to the face of buckle 10.

In this modification of my invention the golfer merely places his thumb on the marker 16, slides it away from the magnetic element 15, and then places it in the location to indicate the position of his lifted ball. When the ball is replaced on the green the marker 16 is just placed in front of magnetic element 15 and it is held there magn-etically until it is needed to be removed once again.

In the modification shown in FIGURE 3, belt buckle is shown as having belt fastening means 31 and 32 on either end thereof. Located in the approximate center of buckle 30 is permanently fastened magnetic element 33. This element 33 is quite similar to member 15 in FIGURES 1 and 2 except that magnetic element 33 has an opening 34 therein.

Marker 35 has an the rearward surface thereof -a nipple 36 which is smaller in size than opening 34 and fits into opening 34 when the marker is in place on the front of the belt buckle 30. The primary purpose of nipple 36 is to hold the marker 35 in place in case an object, such as the golfers arm, accidentally brushes against the front of the buckle.

To use the marker 35 the golfer need only place his thumbnail or fingernail under the edge of the marker and pull it loose from the magnetic attraction of ma netic element 33.

Referring now to FIGURE 4 of the drawing, here is shown belt buckle 40 with belt fastening means 41 and 42 similar to the previously described belt fastening means. Buckle 40 has an indented portion 43 in which magnetic element 44 is fastened. As can be noted, magnetic element 44 extends forwardly into the space provided by indentation 43. Indentation 43 is of approximately the same area and configuration as marker 45 whereas magnetic element 44 is considerably smaller in area than either 43 or 45. The purpose of this difference in size is to permit easy removal of the marker 45. Due to the larger surface of the marker 45 it can be readily tilted by pressing on it at any place near the outer periphery thereof. When the pressure is applied inwardly on the outer edge, the corner of the magnet 44 acts as a fulcrum and the opposite edge of marker 45 is tilted upwardly, providing easy access for removal by the user. As is the case in the modifications shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, in this modification the marker may be removed by placing the fingernail or thumbnail under the edge thereof and prying upwardly.

After use the marker is placed over the magnetic element 44 and held there by magnetic attraction until it is needed again.

In the modifications shown in FIGURES 5 and 6 the marker itself is shown as being a magnetic element. In FIGURE 5, buckle 50 is shown as having fastening elements 51 and 52 for easy attachment to a belt. In the approximate center of buckle 50 is located an indentation 53. Said indentation 53 has a relatively large cut out portion 54.

Marker 55 is itself a magnetic element and at least the indented portion of buckle 50 is made of a material responsive to magnetic attraction. When marker 55 is in position within the indentation 53 a substantially flat front surface is provided for buckle 50 and the possibility of accidentally brushing marker 55 from its location is practically eliminated.

Due to the large size of opening 54, the users finger or thumb may be inserted in the back of buckle 50 and marker 55 may be pushed outwardly so that it may be used to indicate the position of a removed ball.

Once the ball is replaced the magnetic marker 55 is placed back within the indentation 54.

In FIGURE 6, belt buckle 60 is shown as having belt fasteners 61 and 62. Located on the front surface of buckle 60 is marker 63, made of a magnetized material. At least that portion of buckle 60 which is covered by the marker is made of a material responsive to magnetic attraction. If desired the entire buckle may be made of a material responsive to magnetic attraction.

When it is desired to remove marker 63 then it is merely slid across the surface of buckle 60 until it extends beyond the surface thereof and then it is grasped by the fingers and placed in ball-locating position. Here again the fingernail or thumbnail may be utilized for removal.

After use it is merely placed against the front of buckle 60, and since marker 63 is made of magnetized material then it will remain against the surface of buckle 60 until needed again.

FIGURE 7 shows a typical marker 70 which may be used in any of the modifications. Although shown here 4 as circular, with markings simulating the surface of a golf ball, it may take any shape or configuration desired.

In any of the modifications shown and described herein either the marker or a portion of the buckle may be the magnetized element and still fall within the purview of my disclosure. For example, in FIGURE 2 it is possible to make marker 16 of a magnetized material and member 15 of a material responsive to magnetic attraction. Likewise, in FIGURES 5 and 6 the buckle itself or a portion thereof may be the magnetized element and the marker made of a material responsive to magnetic attraction. If desired, both marker and buckle could be magnetized in any of the modifications described herein.

Although the invention has been described largely in terms of several embodiments and shown here used as a golf marker, it will be understood that in some respects these embodiments are only illustrative and that the invention is susceptible of application in 'a variety of other forms and other games wherever markers are needed, within the spirit and scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A belt buckle comprised of a substantially flat body portion, means on each end of said buckle for fastening the ends of a belt thereto, a magnetized element located in the front surface of said buckle, said magnetic element having a cut-out portion substantially in the center thereof, and a magnetizable marker removably disposed on said magnetic element, said marker having a nipple on the rear surface, said nipple being smaller than the cut-out portion of the magnetic element and fitting into said cut-out portion when said marker is in position on the belt buckle.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,610,848 12/28 Critchley 24-163 1,769,415 7/30 Byberg 317159 X 2,176,052 10/39 Beyer. 2,217,514 10/40 Henry. 2,434,973 1/48 Williams 317-159 X 3,136,547 6/64 Schaper 273-32 DONLEY J. STOCKING, Primary Examiner. 

